The Straffe Hendrik Wild 2023 is the wild version of the Bruges tripel by De Halve Maan, the family brewery in Bruges now in its sixth generation since 1856 — and famous for its 3.3 km underground beer pipeline beneath the city. A tripel refermented with Brettanomyces and bottled just once a year.
A tripel that evolves
This wild version undergoes a three-month refermentation with Brettanomyces yeast in a warm room. Over time, the hop bitterness softens while the Brett develops fruity, floral and vinous aromas. With an ageing potential of more than five years, it is a beer of patience.
Bottled once a year — every vintage stands on its own.
The Visual Analysis
An amber-to-golden colour, lightly hazy. Lively effervescence, the sign of active refermentation. A creamy, persistent head.
The Nose
A fruity, funky bouquet: stone fruit (apricot, peach), tropical notes (pineapple, mango), subtle citrus. The Brett funk brings a noble farmhouse dimension, without aggression, over aromatic hops.
On the Palate
The balance between tripel and Brett is masterful: the classic malty sweetness meets wild complexity. A creamy, living texture, dynamic carbonation. A dry, fruity, vinous finish with floral touches. The evolution continues in the bottle — a beer that rewards patience.
The Perfect Pairing according to Doctor Beer
With an aged Gouda: the Brett notes converse with the cheese’s tyrosine crystals, and the light acidity lifts its complexity. An obvious Low-Countries alliance.
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Bottled once a year and able to age five years and more: the Wild 2023 rewards those who wait.
